Most of my students have trouble with the idea that a book — especially a textbook — can lie. That’s why I start my U.S. history class by stealing a student’s purse.

As the year opens, my students may not know when the Civil War was fought or what James Madison or Frederick Douglass did; but they know that a brave fellow named Christopher Columbus discovered America. Indeed, this bit of historical lore may be the only knowledge class members share in common.

What students don’t know is that their textbooks have, by omission or otherwise, lied to them.

Related Resources

Teaching Activity. By Bill Bigelow. 8 pages.
A trial role play asks students to determine who is responsible for the death of millions of Taínos on the island of Hispaniola in the late 15th century. Roles available in Spanish.

Article. By Bill Bigelow. 2015. If We Knew Our History Series.
When the school curriculum celebrates Columbus, children are taught that it’s OK for white people to rule over peoples of color and that militarily powerful nations can bully weaker nations. By his own account, Columbus enslaved people, destroyed cultures, and terrorized those who challenged his rule. It’s time to abolish Columbus Day.

2 comments on “Discovering Columbus: Re-reading the Past”

The Discovering Columbus lesson helps students contextualize perspective and point of view in a very real fashion, and provided an invaluable jumping off point for assessing perspective, context, and validity in history. —Jessica Pullen, middle school social studies teacher, Anacortes, WA

I teach 5th graders and we have been learning about mesoamerican cultures. We have been shifting into how these cultures were impacted and destroyed by European explorers. Comparing and contrasting history texts that are told from different perspectives has really helped my students to see both sides of the story and see the injustices that have occurred throughout history. I wish their were more resources available to teacher that help shed light on the non-white perspective of history. My fifth graders are fired up and engaged about their learning now! —Shannon Jaeger, elementary school teacher, Richfield, MN